Don Cherry Fan Gets His Job Back

An Oshawa teenager, who lost his job at Oshawa’s General Motors Centre over a year ago, now has his summer job back with Rogers TV.

Eighteen year old Billy Steele is once again working as a volunteer cameraman at the Centre, following his settlement with the arena’s operator which was arbitrated by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.

Steele had been banned from working at Rogers TV after he approached and chatted with hockey commentator – and Kingston born and raised – Don Cherry, while working at an event.

It is against Rogers policy for employees to engage celebrities when on duty, but Steele’s father claimed the boy’s learning disability could occasionally cause him to ignore rules.

Don Cherry – who appears to enjoy talking with young fans – joined Steele’s cause to get his job back early on, but the Centre refused to relent.

The youth plans to continue with his media career and said he intends to work at the General Motors Centre throughout the year.

“For me to be back there, it’s like the world to me,” he said earlier this month. “It’s really important because it’s what I want to do and I think I’ll learn more from this than a paid job.”

After Steele was fired, his father launched a human rights complaint that alleged workplace discrimination and sought $100,000.

Details of the recent settlement was not be disclosed.

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Photo by Dave O

Tags: Don Cherry, hockey